“© Cheryl Quigley | Dreamstime.com“
Full disclosure time – my husband works for ESPN. And so did I, a long time ago.
I left the company for personal reasons, before it started broadcasting hardly any equestrian sports. Was I a big dummy? Or crazy like a fox? Who’s to say, except for St. Peter in the (I hope) distant future.
So, I also hope that my revelation of my connections doesn’t take any power away from this next statement — I really enjoy ESPN’s racing coverage.
I like seeing the horses, of course. And I like watching the feature stories, so that I can get a “big picture” perspective on a race. I even like the commercials from the horse farms and the companies offering products to them.
All of the commentators are knowledgeable and fun to watch, especially Jerry Bailey who brings experience and energy to his analysis.
But I have a minor quibble. (No, I’m not in a snit because we didn’t get to catch a glimpse of Funny Cide. 
) The title gives you a hint — why wasn’t the Travers Stakes aired in high definition TV?
Now that we have a big screen TV, I’m spoiled beyond belief. If I’m watching an HD channel, I don’t want to see those “screen fillers,” the adapter bars flanking the image on a show that’s been shot in “standard definition” TV. Especially when I’m watching a live show from a company that I know has live HD capabilities.
Let alone on an important race, like the Travers Stakes. It’s right up there in importance with the Triple Crown and the Breeders Cup races. Plus, Saratoga in the summer is plenty picturesque. Just as much as Del Mar was on Sunday for the live racing coverage from there. Which, I may add, was in HDTV.
Geez, guys. Come on. I want my HDTV.
Tags: ESPN, HDTV, Jerry Bailey, The Travers Stakes
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